By
Daisy CL Mandap
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| Congen Raly meets CE Carrie |
Long-standing issues like the 14-day
visa restriction on dismissed workers and forced live-in arrangement for
foreign domestic helpers, as well as new ones, like the call to set up a separate
job category for caregivers, were among the matters raised by Consul General
Raly Tejada when he paid a courtesy call on Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie
Lam on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Congen Tejada said he also assured
the Chief Executive of the Filipinos’ continuing support for Hong Kong, as it
continues to be rocked by anti-government protests.
Details of their scheduled meeting
were revealed by Congen Tejada, in line with his promise to the Filipino
community in Hong Kong of a transparent and pro-active leadership.
He said he told the Chief Executive
that he needed to bring up the concerns as they were important to Filipinos in
Hong Kong. In response, Mrs Lam reportedly promised to look into the issues he
raised but gave no promises.
During the meeting that lasted
between 45 to 50 minutes, Congen Tejada brought up other issues concerning the
welfare and protection of the 238,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong.
These include the suitability of
accommodations provided to domestic workers, their
long working hours, their being
taken advantage of by illegal money lenders, and their request for the creation
of a caregiver class as a new category of workers.
He also mentioned that 3,000
Filipino workers have availed of the free anti-measles vaccine provided by the
Hong Kong Department of Health in cooperation with the Consulate.
On the business front, he informed
Mrs Lam that a Philippine Trade and Investment Center will soon be set up in Hong
Kong after Beijing recently granted its approval; and that President Rodrigo
Duterte is about to ratify the ASEAN- HK Free Trade Agreement.
Finally, Congen Tejada said he conveyed
the Filipino peoples’ collective hope for peace and prosperity to return soon
to Hong Kong.
“I also emphasized that the fortunes
of all Filipinos living and working in the territory is tied to its continued
stability and economic growth. I informed her that while our people are worried
they remain confident that HK will overcome current challenges,” he said.
“ I added that Filipinos love HK and
that living and working in HK is something that they deeply cherish and assured
her that Filipinos will not abandon HK in its time of need.”
In turn, Mrs Lam reportedly asked
him to extend her thanks to the Philippines, especially to the Filipino workers
who have contributed greatly to Hong Kong’s economic prosperity.
It was the first meeting between the
two officials since Congen Tejada formally assumed his post last month.
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